This small island 900 kilometres east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean is the kind that travel brochures love to call a tropical paradise. It's easy enough to see why. The ocean provides scope for every kind of water sport including surfing. The interior has dense forests abundant in native flora and fauna. Except for the Dodo bird. That was killed off by settlers, giving rise to the phrase.

The paradise description is more apt than it usually is because the island's fairly untroubled history is not scarred by past tragedies. Early European explorers found no indigenous population. From the time of Napoleon till 1968 when it became independent, it was under British rule but many other nationalities and cultures settled into Mauritius also.

Consisting of a number of islands in a very large volcanic archipelago, the land of the rising sun is an entrancing mix of ancient tradition and adapted western style. In Tokyo, the neon-lit main boulevards dazzle the eye, while highly trained geisha still perform their duties in places mostly hidden from view.

Respect, etiquette and ritual have always been the foundation of life here, despite gothic teens in French maid costumes running around Shinjuku Tokyo. Bowing means so much that many companies provide employee training in the skill. For the tourist, however, it is generally acceptable to simply tilt the head forward, as nobody expects you to be perfect.

It may seem to be a land of contrast, but everything is always Japanese.

Renowned for its rich history and stunning beaches, Mexico is one of the most traveled places in the world. This trip took the Hegre team to the Yucatan Peninsula located in southeastern Mexico, an area famous for evocative ancient Mayan ruins and also an idyllic Caribbean coastline of white sand beaches and turquoise waters.

The Mayan influence can be found in everything from the vibrant fiestas to the fiery cuisine. Exotic and mysterious, the limestone landscape of underground rivers and sacred pools adds to the aura of ancient mystery. The coast has seen new visitors in recent years as tourists are drawn to the area by the perfect climate and laid-back lifestyle. Like the Spanish conquistadors who arrived there in 16th century, tourists find that there’s much more to the region than they could have ever imagined.

If you want to experience a different side to Spain then visit Catalonia. This very cosmopolitan region has a streak of independence that sets it apart from anywhere else. This includes having its own language, traditions and unique architecture. Add to that the vibrant city of culture Barcelona and a coastline that includes the Costa Brava and the Costa Dorada - Catalonia is certainly a region that has something for everyone.

A very popular tourist destination, Catalan history and traditions have left a rich cultural legacy. It also has to offer a wide diversity of things to experience including natural surroundings, delicious cuisine, adventure sports and health spas. All of which combine to make Catalonia a highly attractive location to visit.

Thailand is gentle with the smell of eastern spices in the air, the sound of Buddhist monks in saffron robes chanting mantras in the monasteries and sweet Oriental girls like exotic birds fluttering in multi-colored sarongs along the sidewalk.

Steeped in tradition and yet Thailand’s old world ways sit comfortably with the rush and hassle of modern life. Beyond the nose of the cities are archipelagos of desert islands and tropical beaches ringed by palms. Thailand gets more visitors than any other country in Southeast Asia with its intoxicating combination of breathtaking scenery, spiritual traditions, historical ruins, flavorsome cuisine and of course the infamous Thai hospitality.

Portugal is the land that time forgot. Once a great naval power competing with the Spanish and the English exploring the new world, after discovering the delights of Brazil its energy seemed to have been transferred to South America and Portugal began a long siesta.

Today with 200 million Portuguese speakers in Brazil and only 10 million in Portugal itself, the country is in the unique position of being colonised by its own colony. Turn on the TV in Portugal and 90% of the programming comes from Brazil. It's the same with writers, filmmakers, fashion designers and, of course, samba composers.

What does that all mean in the end? Portugal is an undiscovered little hideaway with lost ancient cities, hills embroidered with orange groves and perhaps the best climate in Europe.

Mention you are heading to the Island of Capri for a vacation and there will be few people who won't express their envy. From the 1950’s onwards Capri became the world capital of Café Society -an exciting and glamorous location.

Capri town itself is in the centre of the island and where most of the hotels are located. The focal point of island social life is the central Piazzetta. The hub of the local community, La Piazzetta is also lined with luxury boutiques and expensive restaurants.
Since the 1950s Capri has been associated with the international jet-set, synonymous with celebrity, glamorous parties, and fine culture. With its air of simplicity and yet this undeniable dash of glitz, capricious Capri is indeed a dream destination.

Spain managed to avoid the two world wars of the 20th century. After the Civil war, General Franco kept a tight control on the country and when he died in 1975, after the rest of Europe had gone through the sixties sex and drugs and rock-'n'-roll revolution, Spain resurfaced with all the jewels of its long history shiny, preserved and perfect.

Gran Canaria

The island of Gran Canaria could be described as one of the last European paradise isles. Located in the Atlantic Ocean, 130 miles from the African coast, this island has been described as a ‘mini continent’. Part tourist heaven and part tourist hell, the downsides to this island include ugly architecture, over- crowding and commercialism gone crazy. On a positive note Gran Canaria offers the diversity of beautiful beaches with Sahara like dunes, lush forests, exotic flora and fauna, volcanic craters and the vibrant capital city Las Palmas for buzzing nightlife and dining out.

For a thousand years the Ukraine has been dominated by Mongols, Russians, the Polish, even the Cossacks and the Lithuanians. The invaders have come and gone but the people have remained grittily determined to be free.

Independence finally came in 1991, but it wasn't until the closing months of 2004 when the peaceful mass protest called the Orange Revolution forced the authorities to overturn the rigged presidential election to allow a monitored vote that swept reformist Viktor Yushchenko to power.

Ukraine is the bread basket of the old Soviet Union with the potential of becoming one of the most prosperous and powerful nations in the new Europe. According to Petter Hegre, it also has, the most beautiful women in the world.

Long considered the very definition of style, Paris is the most glamorous city in all of Europe. Magnificent is too small a word to describe its many monuments, art galleries, and alluring night life. For hundreds of years, the whole of Europe has looked to Paris as the leader just about every trend from fashion, to journalism, to architectural design. If you are looking for the epitome of class then this is it.

New York City theres no place quite like it. Possibly the most enticing city in the world, New York is an adrenaline charged destination of history, culture and iconic architecture.

What CANT you do in the Big Apple? Galleries, museums, architecture, shows, shopping, clubs, its all here. Or simply soak up the ambience of the cities different neighbourhoods, from bustling Chinatown to artsy SoHo or Tribeca. For a truly cosmopolitan adventure, look no further.

Long considered the very definition of style, Paris is the most glamorous city in all of Europe. Magnificent is too small a word to describe its many monuments, art galleries, and alluring night life. For hundreds of years, the whole of Europe has looked to Paris as the leader just about every trend from fashion, to journalism, to architectural design. If you are looking for the epitome of class then this is it.

If there is anywhere in the world that has a multitude of nicknames it is certainly Bali. Morning of the World, Island of the Gods and the Last Paradise on Earth are just a few that spring to mind.

Although it has undergone a great deal of modernization over the past decade, most of the island still deserves those appellations. Its natural beauty, the colorful Balinese Hindu festivals and the friendliness of the people lure vacationers to its tropical wonders year after year.

Most tourists know Bali for its splendid beaches and lush green landscape. Its cities however are also cultural centers filled with five star hotels, elegant dining, and of course plenty of shopping.

Italy is timeless and sensual, its landscape, its colours, its flavours and its food; in Italian opera they sing eulogies to the wine. Italy is a treasure trove with Tuscany the jewel in the crown, a place so alluring you will be in danger of believing you are already in paradise.

St. Tropez began as a rather unremarkable place. It was originally a small fishing port started by the Greeks in the 8th century and stayed that way until modern times. Its only distinguishing factor being the fact that it was not accessible by roads forcing visitors to approach the island by boat.

At the beginning of the 20th century an influx of famous artists and writers found St. Tropez to be an isolated haven where they could do their work at peace from the masses. Famous names in the area inadvertently drove the public eye to the island effectively changing its landscape forever.

Today it is this very quality that makes St. Tropez a tourist hot spot. Since the 1950s it has become an international center of celebrities, sex, parties, and fine culture. More big money flows through St. Tropez then a high rolling Las Vegas Casino.

Well, everything. It has everything, after all: vast plains and impenetrable deserts, glistening lakes, thundering glaciers and some of the greatest waterfalls on the planet.

Immigrants flocked to Argentina from all over Europe and this blend of people and cultures has created the sexiest dance in the tango, the most cosmopolitan of capitals in Buenos Aires and, as Petter Hegre's expedition reveals, some of the most beautiful girls in the world today.

That's not to mention the juiciest beef and some of the best red wines you will ever taste.

Italy has it all - and it knows it. The cradle of Western civilization, its monuments are incomparable; its language gave us great masterpieces of theatre and laid the foundations for modern thought and philosophy. The Renaissance began in Italy and its great artists are legendary; Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Canaletto.

Italy is timeless and sensual, its landscape, its colours, its flavours and its food; in Italian opera they sing eulogies to the wine. Italy is a treasure trove with Tuscany the jewel in the crown, a place so alluring you will be in danger of believing you are already in paradise.

Walk down the street in any city in Brazil and the people seem to be dancing. It's not blood running through Brazilian veins by the melodic beat of samba. The people are an unlikely blend of the modern and conservative - girls as sweet as molasses, as pure as falling snow, will see no contradiction is going out dressed in the sexiest, skimpiest little outfits on the planet. You can look, but you better not touch.

From the passions of Carnaval to the primordial immensity of the Amazon, Brazil is a land of mythic proportions with stretches of unexplored rain forest, tropical islands with exotic birds still unnamed by man nesting in the trees and an energy that will make you feel completely alive.

The Czech Republic is a new country with a new name, a new flag, a new constitution and a history as old as Europe. After the break of the old Soviet bloc, the Czechs and the Slovaks decided amicably to divide Czechoslovakia and find their own destinies under the umbrella of the European Union.

The result in the Czech Republic is a vibrant, dynamic little tiger with a growing economy, outgoing people, genuinely gorgeous women of all ages and the capital, Prague, a mini-Paris that really rocks! Cheap flights have made Prague accessible to mass tourism, but even when the streets are packed, it is still one of the most enchanting cities in the world.

Long considered the very definition of style, Paris is the most glamorous city in all of Europe. Magnificent is too small a word to describe its many monuments, art galleries, and alluring night life.

For hundreds of years, the whole of Europe has looked to Paris as the leader just about every trend from fashion, to journalism, to architectural design. If you are looking for the epitome of class then this is it.

If you're looking for a totally wild experience there is nowhere quite like South Africa. The country has astonishingly good weather, breathtaking scenery, virgin beaches that appear never to have been stepped on by man and dense bush where you van see the wild life in its natural habitat - from the safety of a 4x4, of course.

South Africa has one of the most ethnically mixed rainbow populations that crosses the entire spectrum from ebony skinned native Africans to the cool ice blondes whose forefathers sailed to the Southern Hemisphere from Scandinavia. The result is beautiful people living in a beautiful place so big it will take many journeys just to scratch the surface.

For a thousand years the Ukraine has been dominated by Mongols, Russians, the Polish, even the Cossacks and the Lithuanians. The invaders have come and gone but the people have remained grittily determined to be free.

Independence finally came in 1991, but it wasn't until the closing months of 2004 when the peaceful mass protest called the Orange Revolution forced the authorities to overturn the rigged presidential election to allow a monitored vote that swept reformist Viktor Yushchenko to power.

Ukraine is the bread basket of the old Soviet Union with the potential of becoming one of the most prosperous and powerful nations in the new Europe. According to Petter Hegre, it also has, the most beautiful women in the world.

Portugal is the land that time forgot. Once a great naval power competing with the Spanish and the English exploring the new world, after discovering the delights of Brazil its energy seemed to have been transferred to South America and Portugal began a long siesta.

Today with 200 million Portuguese speakers in Brazil and only 10 million in Portugal itself, the country is in the unique position of being colonised by its own colony. Turn on the TV in Portugal and 90% of the programming comes from Brazil. It's the same with writers, filmmakers, fashion designers and, of course, samba composers.

What does that all mean in the end? Portugal is an undiscovered little hideaway with lost ancient cities, hills embroidered with orange groves and perhaps the best climate in Europe.

At Hegre-Art we like to explore new destinations and feel proud to be among the first to discover the marvels of Crimea with its stunning scenery and a rugged, time sculptured coast on the far side of the Black Sea from Turkey. The sea is surrounded by white peaked mountains and is so warm the coastal resorts were a favourite summer escape of the Russian tsars and it is hardly surprising that it is known today as the Black Sea Riviera.

Greeks founded cities along the coast and you can explore ancient ruins that are little changed since the silk traders passed through this way on their long journeys from China to Venice. When you get bored with history, there's plenty of diversions, scuba diving, chic sexy restaurants and, of course, the chicest, sexiest girls in the world.

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain in size as well as population. Sitting in a privileged position on the shores of the Mediterranean and protected by the last outcroppings of the Pyrenees, it has an agreeable climate throughout the year and, hardly surprising, dates back to a Roman settlement two centuries before Christ.

The city experienced spectacular growth at the onset of industrialization during the second half of the 19th century. The 1888 World's Fair became a symbol of the Catalan's capacity for hard work and the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 added the final touches to what has become one of the moist popular city destinations in Europe.

For a thousand years the Ukraine has been dominated by Mongols, Russians, the Polish, even the Cossacks and the Lithuanians. The invaders have come and gone but the people have remained grittily determined to be free.

Independence finally came in 1991, but it wasn't until the closing months of 2004 when the peaceful mass protest called the Orange Revolution forced the authorities to overturn the rigged presidential election to allow a monitored vote that swept reformist Viktor Yushchenko to power.

Ukraine is the bread basket of the old Soviet Union with the potential of becoming one of the most prosperous and powerful nations in the new Europe. According to Petter Hegre, it also has, the most beautiful women in the world.

By 1980 the workers in Poland had just had enough. They wanted to be free and when an entire nation wants freedom, nothing finally is going to stop them. Through their independent trade union Solidarity the workers became politicians and after ten years of struggle, Solidarity swept to power in dramatic parliamentary elections.

Shock therapy economics during the 1990s enabled the country to transform its way of working and if you visit Poland today what you find is a vibrant young nation that has shrugged off the past and joined the world. Polish food is rich, strong, classy and exciting. The same can be said about its women.

When you think of the women of Russia we imagine bent old babushkas lining up for bread in ration queues or stiff lady judges at the Olympics with faint moustaches and stern expressions as they mark their own competitors with top marks and everyone else with lowly ones. How wrong we have been, as Petter Hegre discovered on his first journey to Moscow with Luba.

Russian women are open, friendly, ultra-modern, the absolute essence of the new nude and, when they weren't lining up to attend castings, they were eager to take the Hegres out to visit the town's fantastic night life, the great restaurants and the most daring night clubs on the planet.